If you are out to kill your image as a professional in your industry then go to a Business Networking Event with the sole intention to strong-arming everyone you talk to into buying something from you.
Yep, high-pressure selling at a social business event would be like a gunshot to the head of your professional image..or at least a shotgun blast to your foot.
Leave the selling to your website videos..that is if you use videos, and you should.
The point of any business gathering is to be personable and to make personal relations first. If the work is done well with the building a personal relationship there usually will be a business relationship development.
Get On Their Calendar
There is nothing wrong with asking to get on someone’s calendar for a one-on-one, but to start off on Cold Calling someone at a social business gathering is professional suicide.
Keep the brochures home. Business Cards are appropriate…if not mandatory at a social business event.
Don’t Be Too Techy
Don’t rely on Tech Gadgets or Apps to compensate for putting a person’s card in your coat pocket or to write on what you were talking about. Being too techy even to a techy person just starts a One-Upmanship competition and not to a professional relationship.
Refer, Refer and then Refer again Is The Secret
If you want to improve your image or establish your image go to a social business event and refer someone you just met to someone you know, or just met, who is a possible business lead.
Introducing someone you just met to someone else you just met who you just learned to have mutual needs or wants shows a positive attitude. Make sure you show you know how to make referrals.
Patience
Everyone I see who has gone to a business social networking gathering to make the hard sell usually comes off making a fool of themselves. Don’t be that guy or gal. And if you are that Guy or Gal….stop…please. You are not only killing your image but you are killing the reputation of the event.
If you want to change…let me know how I can help.
